Quick Facts

ages: 5-11 flexible

tuition: $3500 for first child

Interview Fee: $20

school day: M, T, Th, F 8:30a-3p
W 8:30a-noon (half day)

attendance: 5 hrs/day

parent volunteer:
2 hrs/mo X 10 mos.

part-time option:
3 days for 5-7 y/o

enrolling: year round

Tuition

Tuition for the 2008-2009 school year is $3500 for the first student in a family, $2800 for the second (80%), and $2100 (60%) for each additional student. This is a product of considerable private subsidization in an effort to make this quality program available to a wide range of families. Tuition for the following school years shall be set annually by majority vote of the Arts & Ideas Elementary Assembly - composed of students and parents enrolled at least two months and staff - at its April meeting.

Payment policy

Students may enroll at any time during the school year, or over the summer. Students and parents must be willing to commit to the school for the academic year. Students often need time to adjust to a new environment and different expectations. In order to create a stable community at the school and a successful experience for each student, it is important to commit to trusting the process of self-initiated learning and the work of community building.

While we urge full year tuition payments (at a 3% discount) for those who can, families may choose to make ten monthly payments through an intermediary billing organization, interest free. The down payment is the first payment, and is due upon enrollment.

A late fee of $20 will be charged for any late payments. If payment is not made within two weeks of the due date, the student will not be allowed to continue to attend until payment has been brought up to date. We are a small school and cannot afford to be casual about tuition payment.

Part Time Option

For 2008-09, Arts & Ideas Elementary will offer part-time enrollment of three days per week (Mon., Wed., Fri.) to students who are 5-7 years old. The purpose of this option is to allow younger students who need it, the time to adjust to full-time school. Tuition for Part Time Enrollment is $2,000. for 2008-09.

We encourage full-time enrollment wherever possible; the children, individually and collectively, benefit from a committed, consistent, reliably-present cohort.

Enrollment

In order to enroll, each family must take part in an enrollment interview. This interview is not a test or a means of selecting certain kinds of students. It is a frank discussion during which all parties can make sure that Arts & Ideas Elementary is a good fit for the enrollee and his or her family. Both parents or guardians are required to attend the enrollment interview. Interviews generally last about an hour and must be booked in advance. There is a non-refundable $20 Interview Fee.

Once an interview has taken place and all parties agree that enrollment is a good idea, the next step is for the child to come for a visiting week. At the end of the week, we all meet again and either confirm enrollment, extend the visiting time or decide AIE is not the right place for the student.

We can understand parents wanting to see the school in action but we don't currently allow visitors during school hours. Our setting is intimate and strangers passing through have a strong effect. This is a policy the students, staff and board have agreed upon.

Attendance Requirements

Students at Arts & Ideas Elementary are required to attend the school regularly, for a minimum of five hours per day. We are working on arrangments with an after school program for those interested. The intent of the minimum attendance requirement is to insure the development of a strong school community. Our educational approach works best when parents and students see the school as the center point of their educational experience.

Arts & Ideas Elementary does offer part-time enrollment of three days per week (M, W, F) to students who are 5-7 years old. The purpose of this option is to allow younger students time to adjust to full-time school.

Service Requirement

Parents of enrolled students agree to volunteer service a minimum of 2 hours per month (X 10 mos.) per family. Volunteer opportunities will be posted and coordinated on an adjacent web page.

Our Admissions Policy

Arts & Ideas Elementary has an open admissions policy and does not require any transcripts from previous schools or base admission on academic performance in traditional school settings. It is essential that each prospective family develop a good understanding of our educational approach and be willing to support their child in pursuing his or her own interests. It is also important to determine that students are able to be fairly independent and fully responsible for themselves at school.

School enrollment limits are set by School Meeting; if enrollment levels reach the set limit, a waiting list is instituted.

Arts & Ideas Elementary welcomes racial, ethnic and religious diversity and families of every composition.